I'm looking for a great "first project" to teach girls in grades 3-5 to quilt. It needs to be easily hand-sewn and relatively easy to make. I was thinking about a small pouch-type purse with a ribbon handle BUT.....I know you all have ideas for me! Please let me know your thoughts and experiences with teaching this age to sew and quilt. Thanks in advance!!!!!

My daughter's first quilting experience in Girl Scouts was a small 9-patch hot pad.

I like the hot pad. It's small & flat - easier than a purse which is 3 dimensional.
If that goes over well, then a small table topper using techniques needed to make the purse.
When that's done, then the purse.
Let them know why they're learning these skills.

The local 2year college had a backpacking class that took the students on longer & longer hikes. Built the students up to a week long hike somewhere in the Rockies.

Hot pads are simple, and everyone uses hot pads, so they will feel good when their mom's use them. Another good first project for the sewing machine is a pillow case. I always try to think of things that everyone usually uses. I think that gives the girls an extra pat on the back.
Sue

You could have them work on a quilt for "Quilts 4 Kids". They could learn to sew a simple 4 patch quilt from a kit that you send for and they in turn could make it a service project for the troop. www.quiltsforkids.org

Pillowcases are great too, and could also be used as a service project for a local women's or homeless shelter. They have a really easy pattern from www.allpeoplequilt.com, search for "tube pillowcase".

My daughter learned in Girl Scouts how to make a small 9-patch quilt that could either be a doll quilt or a wall quilt. That was many years ago, and we still have it.

I teach sewing/quilting to anyone 9 years to adult in a community after school program. Our first project on the machine is a potholder. We precut the squares for a 16 patch on one side and a 4 patch on the other side. This promotes accuracy in sewing the seams. It is immediately apparent when seams are too small or too large. Each participant selects the different squares and placement. Our second project is the magic pillowcase. Here is a picture of both and their proud creators: